France: good to know
The general-information half of trip planning: how expensive France feels, what is considered polite, what is not, and the everyday practicalities - alongside our 446 written places.
Formal politeness matters more than speed; meals are events, not refuelling.
✓ Considered polite
- Say Bonjour before anything else in every shop, cafe and office - skipping it reads as rude
- Greet with a light handshake, or cheek kisses among friends
- Keep your voice down in restaurants and on trains
- Ask for une carafe d'eau - free tap water in restaurants is your right
✗ Better avoided
- Expect dinner service much before 19:30
- Rush a meal or ask for the bill with food still on the table
- Assume everyone speaks English - a few French words open every door
- Touch produce at markets without asking the vendor
Worth knowing
- Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but many boulangeries have a small card minimum
- Most shops and many museums close on Sunday or Monday
- Service is included in restaurant prices by law - extra tips are coins, not percentages
- Lunch is roughly 12:00-14:00 sharp; kitchens really do close between services
Plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026.
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Keep planning
Customs are living things - regions differ, cities relax, generations shift. Take these notes as a friendly head start, watch what locals do, and when in doubt a smile and a greeting in the local language cover almost everything.